

A retainer clamp fits over it, and the wedging action of the retainer forces the joint together. They are technically called V-band flange assemblies. A round coupling flange is welded to each side of the pipes being joined. V-band clamps are a slightly different beast. They’re available in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Summit Racing catalogs well over 1,000 different exhaust clamp types that range in size from 1.125 inches all the way up to 9 inches. In some cases, it’s actually easier to use a stud instead of a bolt, even if it’s only for a few of the fastener locations.Įxhaust clamps range from the old standard U-bolt clamps to band and V-band clamps (we’ll look at V-band clamps separately). Some band clamps can be specified as lap joint models, which means they’ll connect OD pipes to ID pipes to provide a smooth transition between the two pipes. Personally, I’ve always found that 12-point bolts make for easier wrenching around tight fitting headers. Some are available with locking devices, and several different head configurations are available. There are dozens of different header bolt and stud kits today. Material choices include chromoly, stainless steel, and mild steel. Summit Racing also has Remflex gaskets for head flanges, collectors, and V-band clamps. They are designed to crush up to 50 percent, filling uneven surfaces for maximum sealing and eliminating the potential for exhaust leaks. These gaskets feature flexible all-graphite construction that’s effective up to 3,000 degrees F-far in excess of the header temperature.
STAINLESS WORKS EXHAUST INSTALL
Some header gaskets have slotted end bolt holes so the header can be hung on a couple of end bolts while the gasket is slipped into place. Then you can install the rest of the bolts and tighten up the assembly.Īnother high tech option is a Remflex gasket. This design also seals well on slightly warped surfaces and holds torque values better. Fel-Pro says this technology resists blowout and burnout from high-temperature exhaust gas and is far stronger than the basic paper gaskets. The Fel-Pro gasket s shown in the photos incorporate a high-density fiber-facing material bonded to both sides of a perforated steel core. Quality varies, so you might need to purchase another set of gaskets. They’re available in steel or stainless steel, and Summit Racing offers reducers for 2.5, 3,ģ.5, and 4 inch collectors. Competition headers mostly use slip-on reducers. Some incorporate an OEM style ball and socket flange. Most bolt-on reducers use three bolts, but there are some four-bolt headers out there. There are two types of header collector reducers–bolt-on and slip-on. Here’s a short list of some of the not-so-little things you’ll need to gather before assembling an exhaust system. Once you start the process, you’ll find there is a lot more to a system than a set of headers, some pipes, and mufflers. But what if you have an oddball combination or a custom application nobody makes a complete exhaust system for? The writer even has one in the garage.įor those vehicles, it’s time to put your thinking cap on and map out your own exhaust system. Many exhaust systems are basically plug and play-line up the pipes, clamp ‘em together, and everything more or less fits.
